Season Finale for British GT Set to be Exciting.

Nine races down, one to go – the season finale for the 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship is all set as twelve drivers from six different teams, representing three different car manufacturers all head to Silverstone for the season closing two hour race.

Currently leading the way in the GT3 battle is the CRS Racing Ferrari 458 Italia of Jim/Glynn Geddie and they head into next Saturday (8 October)’s two hour finale with an eight point advantage and it would appear that their task is a relatively easy one – just in an endurance race with pit stops for the driver change, anything can happen.

The drivers in contention for the GT3 Championship Honours:

• Jim Geddie/Glynn Geddie – CRS Racing Ferrari
• Duncan Cameron/Matt Griffin – MTECH Ferrari
• Mike Guasch/Matt Bell – United Autosports Audi
• Michael Lyons/Charles Bateman – Scuderia Vittoria Ferrari
• David Ashburn – Trackspeed Porsche
• Gregor Fiskin/Tim Bridgman – Trackspeed Porsche
• Hector Lester – Rosso Verde Ferrari.

With twelve drivers still in contention for the Championship title, Benjamin Franassovicci believes the showdown at Silverstone will be gripping:  “To come down to the final round with 12 drivers able to win the championship is a great way to end the year. The unpredictability of the longer-distance race format, with the fuel stops, means that only real team work will come out on top. I have no idea who to put my money on.”

What does each driver need to do to secure the Championship?

Jim/Glynn Geddie:

• Victory Ensures the Championship.
• P2 secures the crown as long as Cameron/Griffin doesn’t win.
• P3 will do – relying on Cameron/Griffin, Guasch/Bell and Lyons/Bateman not taking the flag first.

Duncan Cameron/Matt Griffin:

• Victory secures the Championship.
• P2 secures the crown if Geddies are P4 or lower, Guasch/Bell, Lyons/Bateman and Ashburn aren’t victorious.
• P3 would do if Geddies finish outside the top 6, Guasch/Bell don’t secure a podium, Lyons/Bateman, Ashburn don’t win.

Mike Guasch/Matt Bell:

• Victory wins the crown as long as Geddies finish P3 or lower.
• P2 will do as long as Geddies finish outside top five, race victory not taken by Cameron/Griffin, Lyons/Bateman or Ashburn.
• P3 could do – Geddies finish seventh or lower, Ashburn doesn’t win, Cameron/Griffin, Lyons/Bateman behind.

Michael Lyons/Charles Bateman:

• Victory will win the crown if Geddies are third or lower.
• P2 good enough if Geddies outside top six, Cameron/Griffin fail to finish on the podium and Guasch/Bell behind.
• P3 will do if Geddies eighth or lower, Cameron/Griffin outside top five and Guasch/Bell, Ashburn behind.

David Ashburn:

• Victory will do if Geddies off the podium
• P2 if Geddies finish eighth or lower, Cameron/Griffin fifth or lower, Guasch/Bell, Lyons/Bateman don’t finish on the podium.

Gregor Fiskin/Tim Bridgman, Hector Lester:

• Have to win and then hope – Geddies finish ninth or lower, Cameron/Griffin fail to finish top six, Guasch/Bell fail to finish top five, Lyons/Bateman finish no higher than fourth and Ashburn not getting a podium.

In the battle for GT4 honours, there is a three way battle for the crown between season long Championship leaders Peter Belshaw/Marcus Clutton in the ABG Motorsport KTM X-Bow, Freddie Nordstrom/Leyton Clarke in the Lotus Sport UK Lotus Evora and Dan Denis/David McDonald in the Scuderia Vittoria Ginetta G50. Belshaw/Clutton arrives at Silverstone with a 26.5 point advantage.

The GT4 situation is:

Peter Belshaw/Marcus Clutton:

• Top Six finish ensures the title.

Freddie Nordstrom/Leyton Clarke:

• Class Victory will secure the crown if Belshaw/Clutton outside the top six.
• P2 if Belshaw/Clutton fails to score.

Dan Denis/David McDonald:

• Class Victory required with Belshaw/Clutton not scoring.